Indigenous Literatures in Canada

Indigenous peoples of Canada are culturally diverse. Each group has its own literature, language and culture. The term “Indigenous literature” therefore can be misleading. As writer Jeannette Armstrong states in one interview, “I would stay away from the idea of “Native” literature, there is no such thing. There is Mohawk literature, there is Okanagan literature, but there is no generic Native in Canada”.

Many Indigenous cultures in Canada and worldwide are deeply rooted in oral tradition. Oral tradition includes myths, folklore, and legends. Passing down oral tradition takes great care on the part of the storyteller, as the moral of the tale and its underlying truth must be retold accurately. Oral tradition may take the form of songs, prayers, spiritual teachings and stories, shaping the everyday life of the community and the individual’s sense of identity. The significance of oral tradition is cultural transmission from one generation to the next. The knowledge and wisdom of the Elders serve as link between the young generation and the past generation, keeping the livelihood of a culture intact. When the British and French colonized the land that is now Canada, settlers prioritized written literature over oral literature, under the bias that oral must be uncivilized, and written is civilized. Today, many Indigenous societies rely on oral tradition as a tool for expression and knowledge transmission, despite having adopted written literature. For over a century, the Government of Canada has controlled and regulated Indigenous cultural practices in the form of policy and regulation. The Residential School System separated Indigenous children from their families and communities in order to indoctrinate them Western and Christian thought and to "kill the Indian in the child". Commonly described as cultural genocide, the residential school generated severe cultural, psychological, and social impacts on Indigenous communities. The passing down of culture and knowledge was interrupted as children were removed from their communities. Children experienced physical, psychological and sexual abuse in these schools, and were not allowed to speak their languages.

Traditional oral stories of Mi’kmaq are unique to the Mi’kmaq community, and define their values and beliefs about the world in which they live. "The Legend of the Hand of the Medicine Man" and “The Invisible One” are examples of Mi’kmaq oral stories.Glooscap is a commonly known cultural hero in Mi’kmaq literature. A trickster figure who outsmarts many self-serving characters, Glooscap appears in the Creation Story and "Muin, the Bear's Child”. Glooscap also appears in Rita Joe’s poetry and Lorne Simon’s novel, Stones and Switches. Rita Joe is a well-known Mi’kmaq writer and poet who received the Order of Canada in 1990. She writes about the loss and resilience of her culture, themes which appear poems such as “I lost my talk” and “Wen net ki’l - Who are you?”. She writes in both Mi’kmaq and English. Other Mi’kmaq poets include Lindsay Marshall, Shirley Bear and Teresa Marshall.

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